Soda Stream - Worth the money?

[3boymthr]

Is the Soda Stream worth the $100 the charge for the machine plus the cost of the refills? Is the soda, especially the root beer any good? am thinking of getting one for youngest DS for Christmas (I know an odd present for a kid but he wants nothing and he LOVES root beer.)

 

[sweetdana]

http://www.amazon.com/SodaStream-Fo...F8&qid=1385491690&sr=8-1&keywords=soda+stream


I looked into it, based on Amazon reviews, it seemed it is not as cheap as it claims, but works pretty well.. we opted to skip it. .. but there were a ton of reviews. mostly saying the same thing..

 

[MrsJackSparrow4Life]

It is all a matter of opinion. We were given one for Christmas last year and half the people in the house really liked it and half of us did not. I am in the half that did not. I could never get the carbonation right; 3 shots of carbonation (the recommended amount) left the soda too flat IMO but if you did more than that you would be burping all day.

 

[wiigirl]

My kids likes the ones we have....personally I don't like some of the flavors.

 

[jhjwolf]

I bought it last year for one of my kids and she loves it. I paid a bit less for it at bed bath and beyond. The refill cartrages can be bought for about 15. when you turn in empty one. I do not like the flavors that they offer because they have3 artificial sweeteners in them and my kids can't have it but they add bubbles to juices and love it. I found it to be a good gift for my daughter.

 

[jhjwolf]

The other gadget that my kids really like is the banana one put out be dole. you just add frozen bananas or other fruit and it comes out like ice cream. Its about 40.

 

[Megkel]

My in-laws bought one of these last year. While it was shinney and new they used it. Now that it has been some time I haven't seen them use it at all. I tried it and I was on the fence about it. I like my soda to be really carbonated and it always seemed slightly bubbly to me, like a lightly carbonated water. I wouldn't try any of the soda flavors but the light fruit ones were not bad. Honestly Target sells carbonated flavored water for 69 cents a liter. I much rather have that stuff.

 

[mcorbo]

You can about break even or save a little against supermarket soda sale prices(around $1 for a 2 liter bottle) if you use coupons at Bed Bath and Beyond to get the cartridge refills (I use a $5 off $15 for those) and syrups (20% off makes most them 4.99). I like some of the flavors, but others just don't cut it. It's more about saving the environment from all those plastic bottles than saving a ton of money)

if your son likes root beer, I think a better choice might be a Mr Root Beer kit to make his own from scratch.

http://www.amazon.com/Mr-Root-Beer-Home-Kit/dp/B0006V8LG8

 

[tvguy]

How do you all feel about the human rights allegations against them? Will you still buy from them?
Not looking to get into politics, I just know many have issues with Walmart's policies, wondered that carried over to Sodastream.

 

[LJSquishy]

Strictly from a cost-savings standpoint, it really isn't any cheaper than purchasing 2-liter bottles at the store.

It is definitely fun to use so your son would probably enjoy it if all you care about is him having fun with it.

I don't personally own one but have a brother-in-law who does (they have kids) and they use it every once and a while.

I am picky about soda...I can drink Coke or Pepsi, but I don't like any store brands...and I don't like Sodastream's cola. Their Dr. Pepper equivalent isn't bad. I'm not a root beer fan of any kind so I can't say if that is good or not!

I like the fact that you don't have to use the syrups. You can carbonate say, 100% no sugar added juice for example.

I totally agree that if your kid is a lover of root beer, the root beer making kit would be awesome for him!

 

[aprilchem]

It is a huge cost savings for us because we drink unflavored seltzer water - I live in the south (US) and seltzer is hard to find here and expensive when you do find it (I believe it's $6 for 12 cans at my Wal-Mart). I know soda is generally a lot cheaper than seltzer where I live.

We are a family of 5 and we go through 2-3 L of seltzer a day on a slow day.

 

[scrapquitler]

Strictly from a cost-savings standpoint, it really isn't any cheaper than purchasing 2-liter bottles at the store.

It is definitely fun to use so your son would probably enjoy it if all you care about is him having fun with it.

I don't personally own one but have a brother-in-law who does (they have kids) and they use it every once and a while.

I am picky about soda...I can drink Coke or Pepsi, but I don't like any store brands...and I don't like Sodastream's cola. Their Dr. Pepper equivalent isn't bad. I'm not a root beer fan of any kind so I can't say if that is good or not!

I like the fact that you don't have to use the syrups. You can carbonate say, 100% no sugar added juice for example.

I totally agree that if your kid is a lover of root beer, the root beer making kit would be awesome for him!

The soda might not be that much less than purchasing 2 liter bottles from the store but I LOVE not having to lug them from the store to the house!

I don't love the coke/diet coke flavors, but I do really like the raspberry/cranberry one. My kids love the orange and rootbeer and koolaid flavor ones.

I also like using it to make plain seltzer with fresh fruits/juices.

 

[toystory1130]

We have a few in our family that are root beer fans, and we all like it along with the natural ginger ale. We personally use ours at least once a week and enjoy having it. I wouldn't pay $100 for it though, sometimes QVC has it on sale.
I just checked, they have a bundle for $79 with free shipping.

 

[heynowirv]

We've been using it for about 6-7 yrs. now and have the 130 liter size.I'm not a fan of soda but love Seltzer or carbonated water whatever you want to call it.It ends up costing me about .0.17 a liter which is a heck of a lot cheaper than what you would pay anywhere else.

Not sure what the poster was talking about politicly because i don't think they're owned by walmart.

 

[tvguy]

Not sure what the poster was talking about politicly because i don't think they're owned by walmart.

No, not owned by Walmart, but some here have issues with companies like Walmart and SodaStream because of their actions.

http://www.nationalreview.com/corne...stream-threatened-boycott-nathaniel-botwinick
http://mondoweiss.net/2012/01/activ...-defense-of-profiting-off-the-occupation.html
http://www.codepink4peace.org/section.php?id=470
http://www.whoprofits.org/sites/default/files/WhoProfits-ProductioninSettlements-SodaStream.pdf

I don't care about politics, which we can't discuss here anyway, I am asking if their position impacts you buying Sodastream.

 

[lizabu]

No, not owned by Walmart, but some here have issues with companies like Walmart and SodaStream because of their actions. http://www.nationalreview.com/corner/339685/bubble-politics-sodastream-threatened-boycott-nathaniel-botwinick http://mondoweiss.net/2012/01/activists-respond-to-sodastreams-defense-of-profiting-off-the-occupation.html http://www.codepink4peace.org/section.php?id=470 http://www.whoprofits.org/sites/default/files/WhoProfits-ProductioninSettlements-SodaStream.pdf I don't care about politics, which we can't discuss here anyway, I am asking if their position impacts you buying Sodastream.

I know a bunch of people who boycott sodastream and write letters and even boycott stores that sell it because of where their factory is located.

 

[pfp258]

How about just boycotting soda. And especially for kids! Sweetened, carbonated water that contributes to obesity.

 

[lizabu]

How about just boycotting soda. And especially for kids! Sweetened, carbonated water that contributes to obesity.

It's a human rights thing like how some people refuse to buy blood diamonds.

 

[Soben]

No experience with the SodaStream.

But if you want to make root beer, my son (14) got the root beer kit last christmas and had a great time making it. It takes a while for the yeast to carbonate it, but it would be less of an investment and just as much fun.

 

[Judyat]

How about just boycotting soda. And especially for kids! Sweetened, carbonated water that contributes to obesity.

I too am surprised by all the people attracted to sugared water. No wonder we have a big obesity problem. I saw first hand how it puts on the pounds and I have now been off it for 10 years. Just doing a google search shows what it does to your body should be enough to make anyone quit cold turkey. It's hard to ignore the facts. And diet isn't any better. I don't know anything good that comes from drinking it. It may taste good to some but the truth is that it's doing a number on your body.
The Doctors show has a good video on it and that's just one of many.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VS736o5wMi0
http://www.care2.com/greenliving/9-disturbing-side-effects-of-soda.html